A concerned mother in Florida took matters into her own hands by setting up a sting operation at a local Popeye’s to confront a man who was sexting her 13-year-old daughter. The situation escalated when the man, identified as 18-year-old Cerry Rodriques Banks, was shot by the police.
The mother discovered the inappropriate text relationship between her daughter and Banks, prompting her to pretend to be her daughter and arrange a meeting with him at the Popeye’s restaurant early in the morning.
When Banks arrived at the restaurant, he was met by the mother, her daughter, and her 11-year-old son instead of the teen he was expecting to meet. During the confrontation, Banks allegedly displayed a pistol tucked in his waistband.
Feeling threatened, the mother retreated into the Popeye’s and contacted the police for help. The responding officer arrived and ordered Banks to show his hands, leading to a chase and eventual shooting by the officer.
Despite being shot, Banks managed to flee but was later tracked down by a K-9 unit and taken into custody. He faces multiple charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and lewd conduct. He is being held on a $700,000 bond.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters acknowledged the mother’s actions but advised parents to contact law enforcement in such situations to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
